Egypt

During four days in Cairo, we follow a chronological timeline that takes us through the different layers of the city. We naturally begin at the beginning: the Giza Plateau, where the pyramids still stand as timeless anchors in the landscape. From there, we make leaps forward in time — to the 19th-century grandeur of the Muhammad Ali Mosque in the Citadel, and further to the urban expansions that have shaped Cairo into the metropolis it is today, from Islamic Cairo to Downtown and Heliopolis.

But what truly distinguishes this journey is what takes place between these historical landmarks. Thanks to extensive field research, we were able to build local networks, including encounters with architects such as Waleed Arafa (Dar Arafa Architecture), that give us access to a less visible Egypt. We are welcomed by architects and designers, each reflecting in their own way on the city and its evolution. Their stories open doors that remain closed to most travellers.

In this way, we engage with the work and legacy of key figures such as Ramses Wissa Wassef and Hassan Fathy — two architects who, each with a distinct vision, turned to local building traditions in an era of rapid modernisation. Their projects demonstrate how architecture can also be a social and cultural commitment. At the same time, we discover contemporary initiatives such as CLUSTER, where research and urban reality come together in alternative readings of the city.

Art is given a full place in the programme, including a visit to the Adam Henein Museum. The recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum is also part of this layered experience and stands as a contemporary architectural statement. Throughout the journey, we are accompanied by an Egyptologist, who further deepens the historical context and connects it to what we experience on site.

After Cairo, we continue to Luxor, where the timeline unfolds further in a landscape that ranks among the most impressive in the world. Here, the major chapters of ancient Egypt become tangible at scale: from the Valley of the Kings to the Temple of Hatshepsut, which is set into the rocky landscape like a rhythmic composition. The Colossi of Memnon also mark — as silent guardians at the edge of the fertile Nile Valley — the transition between city and necropolis. We explore the temple complexes of Luxor and Karnak, where architecture, ritual, and cosmology converge into an unparalleled spatial experience. At the same time, the 20th century remains present here as well, with Hassan Fathy’s visionary New Gourna and the Stopplaere House.

After an 8-day tour, we are exploring the possibility of offering an exclusive extension for a limited group of 12 travelers: a four-day cruise on the Nile, led by an experienced Egyptologist. On board, the landscape unfolds at a slower pace, with carefully selected visits to archaeological sites and villages along the riverbanks. This creates a more intimate way to experience ancient Egypt.
This extension can only take place if there is sufficient interest and participation from 12 people. The estimated price for this is €3,250 per person. Are you interested? Please let us know by June 30, 2026. You will then receive an overview of the program and all the practical information.